John Berger and Henri Lefebvre both talk about alienation in modernity. For Berger this alienation is most visible in the way the bourgeoisie eats and for Lefebvre societal alienation takes place in all manner of leisure activities. We are alienated from our bodies, our food, the production of our food, and its preparation through social elements such as the production of dinner as well as physical uses of space such as the use of the dining room.
Lefebvre comments on the alienation of sexuality, sports, and other leisure activities. Though we are surrounded by images that are supposed to offer a relief from work, they lack real meaning and therefore are cheap reproductions of activities that we would normally find solace in. Sports don't mean activity for those who use sports as a means of leisure, passion isn't offered in the sexuality portrayed by models on magazines or billboards. In our efforts to escape work we have created facsimiles of activities people generally enjoy.
I've read these articles before, but I feel like I'm reading them differently after reading "History of the World in Seven Cheap Things." I now see how leisure is commercialized and has been cheapened. I'm curious to hear what other readings people related these to.
Erika, great connection here between the two essays: politics of everyday life are the focus of both, and indeed for lefebvre, "everyday life" is a very particular phrase with a particular meaning. It only emerges as a concept at the turn of the twentieth century, much like the term 'selfie' in the last two decades. Alienation is another vital concept here as is leisure. Why does Lefebvre care about leisure and what does it tell us about alienation and what Lefebvre names "dis-alienation?" Nice connection as well to Patel and Moore's concept of "cheap", but keep in mind how Lefebvre offers a way on beyond the critique of leisure practices as well.
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